Welcome to Kendra Graham’s online Bible study. Our prayer is that you grow deeper in the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word and His promises for you. Below is the handout for the second week of the Bible study with a few homework questions at the end.
I AM
#ENOUGH
to LEAD you…
STEP ONE: Pray
STEP TWO: Read the Text.
Exodus 13:17-22
(17) Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near, for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”
(18) Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt.
(19) Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God shall surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.”
(20) Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of
the wilderness.
(21) The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way and a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and night.
(22) He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
STEP THREE WHAT DOES IT SAY? THE FACTS ONLY PLEASE
In this step you need to list the outstanding facts of the passage. DON’T get caught up in the details, just list the facts. Do not paraphrase. Use the actual words of the passage. This is God’s Word, a lot of times this step seems tedious to some, but I urge you, as we read, and say and write God’s Word, it begins to sink deep into our hearts. If you just pick one fact out of the verse, write it down and meditate on it.
17: God did not lead them by land of Philistines, even though near; God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt”
18: God led by way of wilderness to Red Sea; Israel in martial array
19: Moses took bones of Joseph; he made Israel promise, “God shall surely take care of you.”
20: They set out on edge of wilderness
21: The LORD was going before them in pillar of cloud by day and fire by night that they may travel day/night
22: He did not take away pillar of cloud/fire from before the people
STEP FOUR: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? THE LESSONS
Look for a lesson to learn from each fact. What are the people doing that they should be doing? What are the people doing that they shouldn’t be doing?
Is there a command to follow? A promise to claim? A warning to heed? An example to follow? Meditate on these. Ask God what lesson it is that He wants you to hear or learn.
17: God leads us by His way for His reasons. God knows us, and He knows how easy it is for us to bail when things get tough.
18: God’s ways are not our ways; that is probably why we struggle to follow Him. When it comes down to it, we want to control God and His direction, not let God control us and our direction. Following the Good Shepherd will always take faith on our part. KNOW that I AM is #ENOUGH to personally lead me. *martial array– often we think we can handle “battles” because we look the part… but God knew the people were broken and He ALONE, the GOOD SHEPHERD, would have to do all the fighting this time on their behalf. It is important to know we do nothing in the battle for our souls, we just receive the salvation offered.
19: Joseph died BELIEVING that GOD would LEAD them out. Sometimes we need to borrow the faith of others to make it though the desert. Seeing Joseph’s bones would also be a reminder that Egypt was not their home and the Egyptian gods were not their gods, I AM knows the way out and will fulfill HIS promises even if we forget them or don’t believe them. God’s faithfulness to HIS WORD does not depend on us and/or our belief or lack thereof.
20: God brings us to the edge… so that we can make our own personal choice… we can follow Him to the wilderness, or we can follow Egypt. God will not force us to follow, but bids us to come to Him and trust Him—even to this hard place between the Sea and the wilderness.
21: The LORD, “I AM that I AM,” was leading them. His presence was visible
and present, yet they did not know Him. Faith will be needed to follow every time.
22: God refused to take His visible presence away from His people, even though the people would constantly question that presence and whether or not it was trustworthy. I AM knew He is #ENOUGH to lead His people and would daily show and teach His people that very thing. God promises to never leave nor forsake us. His presence today is found in His Word, His promises are #ENOUGH to follow and trust.
STEP FIVE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? NOW APPLY IT…. TODAY.
Take the lessons you learned and put them into the form of a personal question that you would ask your spouse, or a friend or your son or daughter.
As you write the questions, listen for God to communicate to you through His Word.
Do not rush. Do not write things down just to have something on paper; this step takes more time that you may think. This is where Scripture meditation becomes real. This is where you begin to hear that still small voice speak to you, and place His finger in your life and begin to direct your paths…. this day, and the next, and the next. Do you trust Him enough to put into place that which He is moving you to?
17: When have you followed God when it made no sense at all? How did God show up? Has there been a time when you sensed you should have followed God but did not like the direction or destination, so you refused?
18: When have you put conditions on where God is allowed to lead you? When and how has following God taken faith on your part? How have you tried to help God with all your “expertise”? When have you humbly accepted salvation from God, knowing you had done nothing to deserve it or make it happen?
19: When have you had to borrow the faith of someone else to make it through a certain situation? Have you known anyone who died believing the promises of God even though they did not see those promises fulfilled in their lifetime?
20: When have you made a physical choice to follow God, only to end up pinned in between the sea and the wilderness? When did it seem easier and more sensible to bail out from where God was leading than to continue? What did you do? Bail or continue?
21: When has it taken faith for you to follow where God was leading? Has following God taken faith just one time, or does it seem to take more faith every time?
22: When have you had to claim the promises of who God IS in His Word? When have you felt as though God has left you, even though His Word says He won’t? How and when has God’s presence led you, although you battled with doubt along the way? When you looked back, were you able to see where God had been? When has God been true to HIS Word, even when you were not true to Him?
STEP SIX: LIVE IT OUT.
Look over all your facts, lessons and applications for a given passage.
Is there a main theme to them? Does one verse stand out over the rest for
some reason?
Hold yourself accountable to LIVE OUT in your daily life that which God impresses upon your heart. Write it out, sign it, date it and claim the transforming power of God’s Word and His presence in your life.
Be in the Word of God; know who God IS, not who I demand Him to be.
Know Jehovah Raah as MY SHEPHERD as I decide to follow Him
HOMEWORK:
Do the Three Questions on: Exodus 16 – any verses
Get stuck? www.annegrahamlotz.com
I AM #ENOUGH
To LEAD as SHEPHERD
1. #ENOUGH in Places of DESPERATION
Exodus 13:17-22
2. #ENOUGH in Places of DECISION
Exodus 14:18-31
3. #ENOUGH in places of DESTITUTION
Exodus 15:22-27
Thank you again for joining us for this Bible study. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Praying that you have a very blessed week ahead!
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